(Washington)--The abhorrent arrests and detentions of Mahmoud Khalil, Badar Suri, Jeanette Vizguerra and the deportation of Assistant Professor of Medicine Rasha Alawich showcase to the nation and the world the threat our current immigration enforcement system poses to a functioning democracy. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) denounces these shameful apprehensions and demands their immediate release so that they can fight their immigration cases alongside their family, community, and with proper access to legal counsel.
Citizens and immigrants alike are protected and encouraged to participate in the rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. Despite this, ICE has made clear that these individuals were targeted for their political advocacy and freedom of expression, once considered a pillar to the American democratic process.
“These harrowing abductions paint a clear picture to the American public of just how unabashed and unregulated immigration enforcement has grown in this country,” ILRC Policy Director Sameera Hafiz said. “Since the Patriot Act of 2001, we have been warning of the authoritarian threat a surveillance and enforcement apparatus of the executive branch could pose in the hands of someone as ruthless as Trump.”
Advocates have long called for the abolition of ICE in response to the ongoing abuse and political retaliation it has been engaging in with those in its custody. Despite this, the agency just secured a significant bump in their budget, and privately owned ICE detention facilities continue to be on the rise.
“You simply cannot deport the values and ideals of justice that have paved the way for the tenacity of this nation,” said Hafiz. “These are the storied values that have drawn in political and religious refugees to this country for centuries.”
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The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC works to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. Follow us at www.ilrc.org, and @the_ILRC on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok. Also follow us on Bluesky @the-ilrc.bsky.social, and on Facebook.